Apparatus for filling and sealing containers



Feb. 6, 1951 s. s. JACOBS ErAL 2,540,120

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND SEALING CONTAINERS Original Filed June 10,1941 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l I i m12,

fIIIIIII/I Fly Z J yJNVENTOR. BY Z'J/Zfg Feb. 6, 1951 s. s. JACOBS x-:TAL

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND SEALING CONTAINERS Original Filed June 10,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j 1' VENTOR BY 4 C Patented Feb. 6, 1951 APPARATUSFOR FILLING AND SEALING CONTAINERS Samuel S. Jacobs, San Mateo, andStellan Birkland, San Francisco, Calif., assignors to American CanCompany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Originalapplication June 10, 1941, Serial No. 397,476. Divided and thisapplication June 29, 1945, Serial No. 602,394

3 Claims. (Cl. 226-75) The present invention relates to a machine forvacuum filling and sealing containers or cans and has particularreference to an organized apparatus for vacuum filling and vacuumclosing containers at respectively different degrees of vacuum in thesame fixed or stationary overall vacuum chamber. This is a division ofmy copending United States application Serial No. 397,476, filed June10, 1941, on Method of Filling and Sealing Containers, now Patent2,426,555, issued August 26, 1947.

In the filling and closing of cans under a vacuum it is usuallydesirable to obtain the highest possible degree of vacuum in the canprior to and/or during the filling operation. However, when this samecan is closed and scaled as in a double seeming machine, it is desirableto reduce the vacuum in the can in order to prevent boiling over of thecontents during the sealing operation. Such desirable conditionsheretofore usually required separate filling and closing machines, orthe separate drawing of the desired degrees of vacuum on the can foreach operation, with the result that the time and cost of drawing thesevacuums where unnecessarily great and the expense of separate machinesand the floor space required for them unnecessarily large.

The instant invention overcomes these old disadvantages by providing amachine for vacuum filling and vacuum sealing such cans in two stages ofvacuumization, both effected in the same fixed overall vacuum chamber,the chamber being maintained at the proper sealing vacuum and the canwhile in the chamber being separately exhausted to a higher degree ofvacuum for the filling operation.

An object, therefore, of the invention is the provision of a machine forvacuum filling and vacuum sealing cans wherein the can is introducedinto a chamber or region which is preferably maintained at a constantvacuum suitable for sealing and while in this region is separatelyvacuumized to a different degree for filling so that the proper vacuumwill obtain in the can during the filling operation and also the desireddifferent vacuum during the closing operation while maintaining the canin a, single vacuumized region until its discharge.

Another object is the provision of such a machine for filling andsealing cans wherein the vacuumization of the cans can be effected whilethe can side walls remain unsupported.

Still another objective of the invention is the provision of a simple,compact and eilicient machine which is adapted to take the place ofSeparate filling and closing machines and is more economical in initialcost, upkeep and floorspace and specially suited for use by smallpackers.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is .better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a machine embodying the instantinvention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of a cover feed device, takensubstantially along the line 2 2 in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a valve part of the cover feed shown inFig. 2, with a cover in place for feeding; and

Fig. 4 is a composite longitudinal section taken substantially along thebroken line Ai-li in Fig. l, with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the drawingsillustrate a vacuum filling and sealing machine in which empty orpartially filled cans A are introduced into a substantially hermeticchamber B providing an interior overall region which is maintained undera constant par tial or relatively low vacuum. The product being lleddetermines what degree of vacuum is used, some products like peachesrequiring very little vacuum in this low vacuum stage. As an example oflow vacuum for products which are best canned in an initial highervacuum than that used for peaches, 22 inches may be menioned. An emptycan or a partially lled can received into such a vacuumized region orchamber is accordingly exhausted of its air to the extent of the vacuumin the region or chamber.

The interior of such a received and low vacuumized can thereupon issealed off from the vacuum of the chamber and a relatively high vacuumis drawn on the interior of the can. Approximately 29 inches may begiven as a figure for the can vacuumized at 22 inches. Thus the vacuumln the can need be increased only seven inches of vacuum and since thedifference between the two pressures is so small the can side walls needno support against injury or collapse. While under this high vacuum thecan is lled with its contents, or if already partially filled thefilling is completed. After lling, the temporary seal of the can isbroken or released and the interior of the can is thus again subjectedto the vacuum condition of the chamber. A permanent cover or sealingclosure is then positioned on the filled can and is sealed in place.preferably by double seaming. Sealing of the can is followed by itsdischarge from the chamber to any suitable place of deposit. The feedingof the can or container and sealing closure into the partiallyvacuumized chamber and the discharge of the filled and sealed containeris accomplished in a substantially air tight manner which insures aconstant vacuum in the chamber without appreciable infiltration of air.

Such a manner of filling and sealing cans under a two-stage or differentdegree vacuumizing process makes it possible to ll the can under thehighest vacuum obtainable and after lling to immediately seal the canwhile in the same chamber at a properly reduced vacuum which preventsboiling over of the contents of the can. The proper head space in thecan is thus maintained and the time and cost of pulling separate vacuumson the can and in different machines are reduced.

In this vacuumizing and filling machine the stationary chamber or regionB is enclosed and defined by a casing II (Figs. 1 and 4) whichIconstitutes the xed main frame of the machine. The empty or partiallyfilled cans A to be lled and sealed are received in spaced and timedorder on a continuously moving endless belt I2 which operates over apulley I3 carried on a shaft I4 journaled in bearings I5 formed on anextension I6 of the casing II. Guide rails |8 disposed adjacent thebelt, maintain the moving cans in line on the belt.

The feed-in belt I2 terminates adjacent a constantly rotatingsubstantially air-tight entrance valve 2| which is located in an opening22 adjacent a valve seat 23 formed in the casing II. This valve sealsoff the opening in the casing while permitting cans A to be passedtherethrough into the chamber B. The valve is mounted on a verticalshaft 24 which is journaied in bearings 25 formed in the casing. Theshaft is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other movingparts of the apparatus. The valve is formed with spaced pockets 26 whichare carried by the rotating valve into the path of the cans on the beltI2. Thus the transfer of the cans individually into the chamber B iseffected.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the chamber B is or may be maintained under avacuum of approximately 22 inches. This vacuum is drawn from anysuitable source by way of a pipe 21 (Fig. 4). The chamber end of thispipe is threaded into the bottom of the casing I I.

A can A introduced into the chamber B is received in a rotating canlling mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 3|. By way ofexample, the cans A are shown as being filled with liquid contents andfor purposes of illustration the drawings illustrate a liquid fillingmechanism of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,124,581,issued July 26, 1938, to R. Luthi on Can Filling Machine.

Such a lling mechanism includes a rotatable turret 32 which is mountedon a stationary hollow post 33. The turret is formed with a plurality ofpockets 34 spaced around its periphery. Below each pocket there is alifter plate 35 which is vertically movable in a well known manner andwhich receives and supports a can A which is advanced by the entrancevalve 2| when the plate passes adjacent the valve. Above each turretpocket there is a vacuumizing and filling head 38 having a rotatablevalve 39. These heads are secured to a tank or reservoir 4I in which theliquid to be filled into the cans is retained. The tank is carried onthe turret and rotates therewith.

Hence when a can A is received in a pocket 34 of the turret it restsupon a lifter plate 35 and the latter carries the can around with theturret in a circular path of travel. A curved guide rail 42 disposedadjacent the periphery of the turret holds the can in its pocket. Duringthis travel the lifter plate raises the can into engagement with thehead 38 directly above and this closes off theinterior of the can fromthe low vacuum of the chamber B.

While in this position the interior of the can is further vacuumized tothe higher vacuum of 29 inches hereinbefore mentioned. This is broughtabout by a turning of the valve 39 which turning may be effected in anysuitable mannei such as that disclosed in the above Luthi patent.

The valve 39 is formed with suitable ports which are brought intoregistry` with other ports in the filling head 38. One of these llinghead ports communicates with a passageway or port 45 (Fig. 4) in thebottom wall of the tank and this passageway communicates with a bore 46formed in the stationary post 33. This bore lends from any suitablesource of the higher vacuum. Hence when the valve 39 is in the properposition the interior of the can is in communication with the source ofthe higher vacuum and the can is accordingly vacuumized to correspondwith the higher vacuum. In case the can is partially filled, as forexample with sliced peaches, pineapple or other desired solid product,the interstices of such products are also freed of air by this highervacuum.

Immediately after such a separate vacuumizing of the interior of the canA, the latter is lled with its liquid contents. This is effected byanother turning of the valve 39 which brings certain ports therein intoregistry with ports in the filling head 38 communicating with apassageway 41 which leads from the interiorof the'tank 4 I. When thevalve is in this position, liquid from the tank flows through thepassageway 41, valve 39, and filling head 38 into the can until thelatter is lled.

When the can is filled the valve 39 is again turned to a position whichcuts off the ports in the lling head and brings the interior of the caninto communication again with the lower vacuum pressure in the chamberB, thereby equalizing the pressure inside and outside of the container.The lifter plate 35 thereupon moves down and carries the filled can downto its original level during which time it remains exposed to the lowvacuum within the chamber B.

Liquid drained out of the tank 4| is replenished by way of an inlet pipe5I which leads from any suitable source of supply of the liquid. Thispipe extends down through a stuffing box 52l in the top of the casing IIand the inner end of the pipe is secured to a cover 53 on the tank 4|.

A filled can A is removed from the turret 32 of the filling mechanism 3|by way of a star wheel 55 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is disposed adjacent theperiphery of the filling turret 32. This star wheel is mounted on avertical shaft 56 in the casing II and may be rotated in any suitablemanner in time with the other moving parts of the apparatus. The starwheel propels the cans along a reversed curved path of travel andpositions them into spaced pockets 8| of a rotating turret 62 mounted ona shaft 63 of a conventional can closing mechanism 64.

A can deposited in a pocket 6l of the turret 62 is received on avertically movable lifter pad 65 disposed below the pocket. The can thussupported is in line with an overhead closing or seeming head 61 (Fig.4) having seaming rollers 68. There is one of these lifter pads and oneof these seaming heads for each turret pocket and the heads are rotatedin any suitable manner.v

A can A thus received in the closing mechanism 64 is carried around acircular path of travel by the turret 62. A curved guide rail 69disposed adjacent the periphery of the turret retains the cans in theirpockets. While the cans are moving along this path of travelsealingclosures or covers C are deposited thereon.

The can ends C preferably are introduced into the low vacuum chamber Bby way of a valve 1l (Figs. l and 2) disposed adjacent an opening 12 inthe casing Il. The entering sealing closures or can ends are fed along arunway 13 on the casing Il by a reciprocating feed bar 14. which slidesin a groove 15 formed in the runway. Feed dogs 16 in the feed baradvance the can ends through the opening 12 in the casing and place themin the valve 1 I.

The valve 1I reciprocates vertically within a housing 'i8 located insidethe vacuum chamber B and is formed cn the casing Il adjacent the opening12. Adjacent the bottom, the housing is formed with a slot 19. When thevalve is in its uppermost position it aligns with the opening 12 for thereception of a can end C while blocking ofi communication between theopening and the slot 19 to prevent the entrance of the outside air intothe vacuum chamber B. After receiving a can end, the valve moves down inits housing into alignment with the slot 19 while still blocking ofi theentrance of air by way of the opening 12.

While the valve is in this lowered position a two finger star wheel 8lmounted on a shaft 82 sweeps the can end C from the valve 1I and propelsit along,r a curved runway 83. This runway guides the can end toward amoving can A in the turret 62 and at the terminal end of the runway thecan end slides into position on and engages the top of the can.

As soon as a can receives its cover or sealing closure it is lifted intoits corresponding closure or seaming head 61 and the cover is thereuponpermanently secured to the can. Lifting of the can is effected by thelifter pad 66 on which it rests and this lifting and the closing of thecan is performed while it is carried around its forward travel by therotating turret 62.

At the completion of the can closing operation, the lifter pad 65 movesclown and thus returns the can to its original level in time to engageagainst a stationary ejecting rail 85 which ejects the closed can fromthe closing turret 62. This rail is secured to the inside of the casingll and projects inwardly into the path of travel of the cans in theturret. y

The ejected closed can A is received in a pocket 85 of a' rotating valve81 disposed in a valve seat 83 formed in the casing Il adjacent a candischarge opening 89 therein. The valve is mounted on a vertical shaft9| journaled in bearings 92 in the casing il and is rotated in anysuitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the apparatus.

The rotating valve 81 carries the closed can out of the vacuum chamber Band brings it adjacent a discharge endless belt conveyor 93 disposedoutside the casing Il. Fingers 94 pivotally mounted in the valve pushthe closed can out of its turret pocket 86 and position it on the beltconveyor. The conveyor carries the can to any suitable place of depositand this completes the operations of filling and sealing the can underthe desired vacuumconditions.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen that in thus cooperativelyarranging both the vacuum filling and vacuum closing mechanisms in acommon chamber or housing and in providing air-tight can in-feed and canout-feed valves and an air-tight can end in-,feed valve, the wholechamber or housing can be maintained under any desired degree of vacuum,preferably at a relatively low vacuum, while the interior of the canjust before filling may be further vacuumized through the filling headwithout disturbing the lower vacuum in the housing. This novelcombination of features has a number of economical, structural andoperative advantages. which are briefly summarized as follows:

It simplifies construction and eliminates a great many parts andoperations heretofore found necessary, for instance, it eliminates aplurality of individual vacuum chambers. It also eliminates mechanicalsupports for the can bodies to keep them from collapse while under highvacuum.

It conserves considerable floor space in the canning plant and provides,especially the small canner with a machine combination which is muchmore economical in original cost, in operation and in upkeep, than theseparate vacuum fillers and vacuum closing machines heretofore used.

It makes it possible to draw a vacuum of different degrees during thefilling and closing operations without exposing the cans to atmosphereat any time.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for vacuum filling and vacuum sealing containers,comprising in combination, a casing enclosing a substantially air-tightchamber, valve means in a wall section of said casing for passingunsealed containers into said chamber and for discharging sealedcontainers therefrom, means for vacuumizing said chamber and theinterior of containers therein to a desired degree of vacuum, arotatable filling turret having a plurality of pockets located in saidvacuumized chamber for receiving unsealed containers to be filled, meansrotatable with said filling turret for further vacuumizing the interiorsalone of the containers and for filling a product into the highervacuumized containers while they are in the turret pockets, a rotatableclosing turret having a plurality of pockets in said vacuumized chamberfor receiving from said filling turret said further vacuumized andfilled containers, means including a valve in a wall section of saidcasing for passing container covers into said vacuumized chamber and fordepositing them in place on said lled containers in said closing turretpockets, and a container closing head disposed in alignment with each ofsaid closing turret pockets for sealing said covers onto the lledcontainers while in said closing turret pockets and while under thelower vacuum condition in said chamber.

2. Apparatus for vacuum lling and vacuum sealing containers underrespectively different degrees of vacuum, comprising a casing defining aclosed overall chamber for simultaneously holding and treating aplurality of containers, means for maintaining a constant relatively lowpartial vacuum in said chamber, valve means for successively introducingunsealed containers in a continuous procession into said chamber toexpose the container interiors to the chamber vacuum, filling means insaid chamber including means for initially temporarily sealing from thechamber` vacuum the interiors of the unsealed partially vacuumizedcontainers While the exteriors of the containers are exposed to thechamber vacuum, said lling means further including means for drawing ahigher degree of vacuum on the thus temporarily sealed containerinteriors prior to the containers being filled by said fllling meanswhile their thus higher vacuumized interiors are maintained temporarilysealed from the relatively lower chamber vacuum, said sealing meansbeing thereafter operative to unseal and expose the lled highervacuumized container interiors to the relatively lower chamber vacuum tosubstantially equalize the reduced pressure to which the containerinteriors and exteriors are subjected, means in said chamber forreceiving from said lling means and finally hermetically sealing thefilled interiorly vacuumized containers while their exteriors aremaintained in contact with the chamber vacuum, and valve means forprogressively discharging the hermetically' sealed containers from saidchamber without appreciably disturbing the constant partial vacuummaintained therein, both of. said valve means for respectivelyintroducing and discharging containers operating simultaneously withsaid filling means and said final hermetic sealing means.

3. Apparatus for vacuum filling and vacuum sealing containers underrespectively different degrees of vacuum, comprising a fixed casingdefining a closed overall chamber for simultaneously holding andtreating a plurality of containers,

means for maintaining a constant partial vacuum condition in saidchamber, valve means for successively introducing unsealed containersand sealing closures in a continuous procession into said chamberthereby exposing the container interiors to the partial chamber vacuum,filling means in said chamber including means for initially temporarilysealing from the chamber vacuum the interiors of the unsealed partiallyvacuumized containers while the exteriors of the containers are exposedto the chamber vacuum, said filling means further including valvecontrolled means for establishing a different degree of vacuum withinthe temporarily sealed container interiors as compared to the constantpartial vacuum prevailing on the container exteriors prior to thecontainers being filled by said filling means while their differentlyvacuumized interiors are maintained temporarily sealed from theconstantly maintained partial chamber vacuum, said temporary sealingmeans being thereafter operative to unseal and expose the filledcontainer interiors to the relatively different chamber vacuum tosubstantially equalize the reduced pressure to which the containerinteriors and exteriors are subjected and thus prevent boiling over ofthe container contents, means in said chamber for removing the filledcontainers from said lilling means, sealing means in said chamber forreceiving from said removing means and liermetically sealing saidclosures onto the filled interiorly vacuumized containers while theirexteriors are maintained in contact with the chamber vacuum, and valvemeans for progressively discharging the hermetically sealed containersfrom said chamber without appreciably disturbing the constant partialvacuum maintained therein.

SAMUEL S. JACOBS. S'I'ELLAN BIRKLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,607,269 Malmquist Nov. 16, 19261,933,462 Troyer et al. Oct. 31, 1933 2,302,693 Hoar Nov. 24, 19422,426,555 Jacobs et al. Aug. 26, 1947

